The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: colliewobbles on August 26, 2013, 10:28:18 pm
-
Hi all - I have been made aware of and am trying to help rehome a couple of collies in my village. I have contacted a couple of rescues that I know and trust to find good collie homes but thought I would post the story on here too, in case anyone has any ideas. Here is the full story, as written to the rescues.
I have been made aware of a pair of collies in my village today that need a new home – this is in South Norfolk NR34. They are currently with a young couple who have a new baby. The story is as follows:
The Mum was in town a month ago when she saw a sign in a shop window saying that 2 collies needed a new home now or they would be going to the pound. The girl was really concerned so called the owners who told her that they were going abroad tomorrow and if they didn’t find a home they were sending the dogs to the pound. They also told her that they have previously gone abroad and left the dogs alone in the house but had been reported so couldn’t do that anymore! Within half an hour of her call the owners had brought the dogs round to her house and left them.
She was told that the girls are litter sisters who are 7 years old and that they have done some sheep work – how much I don’t know. I met the dogs tonight, they are on the small side, short-coated and very gentle and sweet. They are very bonded and sleep in the same bed together. At this stage I don’t know if they are OK with others dogs or other animals. They seemed completely calm and not bothered by the baby.
The couple’s baby is 13 weeks old. Dad works away quite a lot and the time away is unpredictable, subsequently Mum is finding it difficult to walk the dogs when on her own with the baby. They seem to really love the dogs but feel that they cannot provide what the dogs need given their current situation and feel thisl will only worsen as the weather gets worse and the days shorten.
They really want to find a new home for the dogs but don’t really have the knowledge or wherewithal to be able to sort this out. At this stage someone in the village has asked me to help as they know I have collies and also tend to be a little involved with rescues. I have promised the couple my support and said that I will send out messages to people who I think might be able to help and who will ensure the girls get a good home. They have promised not to move the dogs anywhere or do anything without speaking to me first. The young man is happy to cover the costs of transporting the dogs to help them get to the right place so their future is safe.
I would be really grateful if you felt this was something you could help with. I really think this young couple mean well and have tried to do the best by these dogs that were in a bad situation – it just isn’t working out for them. In the short term the dogs are safe but would you be able to help?
-
Have they tried (if no luck on here that is) ? There are some good and kind people on there, I first saw my rescue Dobie on the site.
Also having recently rehomed two wonderful collies recently (6 and 1, mum and daughter), I'm hooked on them! My existing dogs (Dobie and terrier) are lovely but in the intelligence stakes, wow, BCs are something else! And I've lost half a stone already with the walks :-DD
Hopefully someone on here will be able to do the same as us and take the plunge for these lovely girls, :fc:
-
:( I would love to but don't have the knowledge to be able to take them down the sheep path if they are partly trained, I hate the thought of dogs being put from pillar to post and being tried by people then put back and then the ultimate in the pound. :'(
-
Have they tried (if no luck on here that is) ?
Have they tried what? ;)
-
Have they tried (if no luck on here that is) ?
Have they tried what? ;)
Oops iPad seems to have deleted half a sentence while I wasn't looking! Sorry!
If this doesn't work finding a home on here it might be worth trying Dogpages if they haven't already was what I meant to say. I found our Doberman through DP.
-
Would there be anyone in the local area that would be able to try these two out with other animals?
We'd be more than happy to take on rescue collies and continue the sheep training, as have previously trained both young and untrained/part-trained dogs.
However, we have a GSD, 3 cats, and a heap of chickens, so they would have to be at least a little bit OK with other dogs, cats and poultry.
We would be able to pick them up or work out some way of transporting, however, Aberdeenshire to Norfolk is quite a journey for them if they weren't OK with our animals to return them!
-
I can try them out with my dogs, cat and also chickens.
In the meantime however, I have found a possible rescue space for them at a very reputable rescue centre in North Norfolk who will assess them completely. If they agree to take them they will be going there on Friday morning - best thing of course is that any potential home will be home-checked and new owners will have rescue back-up.
When I know more I will post - in the meantime the rescue centre is www.faithanimalrescue.co.uk (http://www.faithanimalrescue.co.uk). If anyone is interested I can pass on details.
Donna
-
Would there be anyone in the local area that would be able to try these two out with other animals?
We'd be more than happy to take on rescue collies and continue the sheep training, as have previously trained both young and untrained/part-trained dogs.
However, we have a GSD, 3 cats, and a heap of chickens, so they would have to be at least a little bit OK with other dogs, cats and poultry.
We would be able to pick them up or work out some way of transporting, however, Aberdeenshire to Norfolk is quite a journey for them if they weren't OK with our animals to return them!
That sounds possibly fantastic - could I pass you info onto the rescue as per previous message and see what they say?
-
Would there be anyone in the local area that would be able to try these two out with other animals?
We'd be more than happy to take on rescue collies and continue the sheep training, as have previously trained both young and untrained/part-trained dogs.
However, we have a GSD, 3 cats, and a heap of chickens, so they would have to be at least a little bit OK with other dogs, cats and poultry.
We would be able to pick them up or work out some way of transporting, however, Aberdeenshire to Norfolk is quite a journey for them if they weren't OK with our animals to return them!
That sounds possibly fantastic - could I pass you info onto the rescue as per previous message and see what they say?
No problem, do let them know that we'd be interested.
As a vet, I know that often if animals can be rehomed without ever going into the rescue centres, it saves them time, paperwork, space, etc, so they're usually very happy with that idea!
If you would be able to check them out with your dogs cats and chickens, that would be ideal!
Look forward to hearing how they get on
-
In my opinion, if a home is being offered it's best to skip the rescue centre - far less traumatic for the dogs so they will settle much quicker. We always try to re-home from the original home to the new one without putting them in kennels. Kennels stress out most dogs.
-
In my opinion, if a home is being offered it's best to skip the rescue centre - far less traumatic for the dogs so they will settle much quicker. We always try to re-home from the original home to the new one without putting them in kennels. Kennels stress out most dogs.
And especially collies I would think....
-
In my opinion, if a home is being offered it's best to skip the rescue centre - far less traumatic for the dogs so they will settle much quicker. We always try to re-home from the original home to the new one without putting them in kennels. Kennels stress out most dogs.
I will speak to the rescue tomorrow and ask them what they think. My problem is I am very busy this week - I have my interview for a farm tenancy on Thursday, am at a dog training event all weekend plus back to school on Monday. Typical that this should happen right at the end of the school holidays.
With all this in mind I won't have much if any time on my hands after Friday and can see no way that I can organise a rehoming to Aberdeen but the rescue will have the means to organise such an event.
Donna
-
Hi Donna
Look forward to hearing what the rescue have to say.
I would be able to help with relocating them up to us, we're used to people not being able to get all the way up to us and certainly weren't expecting you to bring them up to us yourself.
Just need to be sure that if we do come down to bring them up to stay with us that they'll be safe with the cats and chickens, and OK with the other dog, so that we don't have to keep them locked up and can stay with us as a forever home, sounds like they've moved around enough!
Hope that helps
Suzanne
-
Donna, if you have time to post on here you have time to see if the dogs are OK with your own animals and dogs. If they are then a message to Suzanne and she can arrange collection surely.
I certainly wouldn't involve the rescue group - all they will do is take over and ask for donations. I'm sure Suzanne would be happy to do that but the dogs will get stressed if they are taken from you, Donna, to the rescue kennels, then have to be transported elsewhere - and maybe the rescue people will see fit to re-home them closer so they have less costs involved.
Just an outsiders view. We have a policy of keeping transfers to a minimum - preferably from old home to new home. only.
-
Suzanne - I will message you.
Doganjo - I hear what you are saying, but I am posting on here whilst preparing lessons and yearly plans for my department for school which starts next week. Plus I I also have to prepare today a 20 minute presentation for our farm tenancy interview tomorrow morning. Taking the dogs down to where my chickens are, spending time there with them, having them around my house takes a lot longer than the 2 minutes to post on here. However, I shouldn't have to explain my lack of time this week - I am trying to help this couple in the best way I can whilst being pushed for time myself.
-
Hi
without wanting to step on Suzannes toes, if the girls are OK with hens, dogs and people, and recall is good if sheep around, we certainly have an empty space (or 2).
(West Yorkshire)
-
Hi
without wanting to step on Suzannes toes, if the girls are OK with hens, dogs and people, and recall is good if sheep around, we certainly have an empty space (or 2).
(West Yorkshire)
OK - thanks, am currently trying to work out what to do for the best.
-
As an update to everyone, given some of the advice from various contributors.
I have spoken to the rescue - they have agreed to do the check and assessment for me and then either let me take them for private rehoming or keep them at the rescue. I think that gives the dogs the best of all potential outcomes.
I am in contact with interested parties on here and I am going to leave the ultimate decision on how to proceed to the current owners. However, if things work out, I will encourage them to rehome directly rather than chance the dogs languishing in a rescue centre. Thank you for the thoughts given.
Donna
-
Well done! You've put a lot of thought and work into this, you are a star. :bouquet:
-
Isn't it nice when someone gets involved to help even though the problem isn't their own, there's a lot of good people quietly doing their bit :-).
-
Isn't it nice when someone gets involved to help even though the problem isn't their own, there's a lot of good people quietly doing their bit :-).
Thank you :eyelashes: xx
-
Hi all - rest assured that things are progressing with these lovely girls - I have just been to see them again and they really are lovely natured. :love:
Attached are a couple of pics for those who are interested.
-
Here's pic 2
-
Well done! You've put a lot of thought and work into this, you are a star. :bouquet:
Thank you xx
-
They look like real sweethearts - well done you for helping them :thumbsup:
-
They're lovely, and don't they look well together, hope the rescue place don't try and split them up!
also been thinking well done to the young couple for at least trying to keep them in a home situation :thumbsup: .
-
Hi Donna
What are their names?
Just been reading through posts again,
I have spoken to the rescue - they have agreed to do the check and assessment for me and then either let me take them for private rehoming or keep them at the rescue. I think that gives the dogs the best of all potential outcomes.
Oh PLEASE don't let them keep them at the rescue centre, while we got Jack from a home, at one point I had to walk out, it was awful seeing all those poor dogs, 3 to a pen sometimes, I'm not saying this place would be like that, but that's my memory of that place.
-
Hi Donna
What are their names?
Just been reading through posts again,
I have spoken to the rescue - they have agreed to do the check and assessment for me and then either let me take them for private rehoming or keep them at the rescue. I think that gives the dogs the best of all potential outcomes.
Oh PLEASE don't let them keep them at the rescue centre, while we got Jack from a home, at one point I had to walk out, it was awful seeing all those poor dogs, 3 to a pen sometimes, I'm not saying this place would be like that, but that's my memory of that place.
Hi there - they are Dreamer and Ruby.
They almost certainly won't be staying there but rest assured that this is a very, very good rescue that are highly experienced in re-homing collies and they won't split them either. I promise you I wouldn't let them go anywhere I didn't think they would get the best care - I have rescue collies myself and support and help out more than one collie rescue fairly regularly. I am basically 'the mad collie lady' amongst friends and colleagues at school and I would never see one go into or stay in a bad situation if I could do something about it. xx